Alice to cash in on Finke China coverage

The Alice Springs Town Council says a visit by the Chinese national broadcaster to film the Finke Desert Race will be a boon for tourism.

China Central Television will travel to the Northern Territory to film the China Wolf Pack team's involvement in the off-road race next month.

Mayor Damien Ryan says the screening on Chinese television will expose central Australia to up to a billion people.

"The exposure of Alice Springs to a massive market is huge for our community, whether it be just for the race or whether it be for follow-on visitation, understanding that ... red is the most important colour in Chinese culture - we have the Red Centre," he said.

"Through Tourism NT, through the Government, through lots of help, this year's team is coming out [and] they are bringing the five-times national champion to race a vehicle but coming with a national television broadcaster, CC TV [China Central Television] , who reportedly reaches half the population of China."